Travel head support garment

ABSTRACT

Provided is a travel head support garment comprising a torso covering configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer&#39;s torso, in use, and having a head engager configured to selectively engage a wearer&#39;s head. Further included are at least one strap connected to the head engager and running down the wearer&#39;s torso, and a seating pad fastened with the strap and deployable between a storage position, in which the seating pad is stored within the torso covering, and a deployed position, in which the seating pad extends below the wearer&#39;s torso so that a wearer is able to sit on the seating pad so that the weight of the wearer on the seating pad supports the wearer&#39;s head via the strap 22, against gravity to alleviate loading of at least one muscle in the wearer&#39;s neck to unobtrusively support the wearer&#39;s head without conscious effort by the wearer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Patent Application PCT/AU2019/051251, filed Nov. 14, 2019, designating the United States of America and published as International Patent Publication WO 2020/107059 A1 on Jun. 4, 2020, which claims the benefit under Article 8 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty to Australian Patent Application Serial No. 2018904488, filed Nov. 26, 2018.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to personal comfort while travelling, in general, and more specifically to a travel head support garment and a travel head support harness for a garment.

BACKGROUND

The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the disclosure only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

Travel is an integral part of today's world. With the advent of affordable travel, such as air travel, millions of people travel globally every year. Such travel typically involves staying seated for a period of time, often hours with international air travel or longer railway journeys, and often in confined spaces, such as airline seating. As a result, traveler comfort has become an important consideration.

To provide comfort to travelers, head supports have been developed, which generally take the form of the ubiquitous travel pillow, often seen at airports. These pillows typically have a general open doughnut shape that a traveler places around their neck to support their head while travelling. Such known travel pillows can be inflatable, filled with beads or beans, and have various slightly different shapes in an attempt to distinguish themselves from other existing travel pillows and to attempt to provide more comfort to the traveler.

Many people, however, find these neck supports not only cumbersome to travel with, but also uncomfortable. When travelling with a suitcase and a bag, for example, a large travel pillow takes up significant space and carrying capacity, often causing travelers to forego them for the sake of easier carrying of luggage and belongings. In addition, many people find it obtrusive having an object around their throat or neck, especially while trying to relax or rest.

Applicant has identified a need in the art for an improvement to traveler head support and the disclosure was conceived with the above shortcomings in mind.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to an aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a travel head support garment comprising:

-   -   a torso covering configured to cover at least a portion of a         wearer's torso, in use;     -   a head engager configured to selectively engage a wearer's head;     -   at least one strap connected to the head engager and running         down the wearer's torso; and     -   a seating pad fastened with the strap and deployable between a         storage position, in which the pad is stored within the torso         covering, and a deployed position, in which the pad extends         below the wearer's torso so that a wearer is able to sit on the         pad so that a weight of the wearer on the pad supports the         wearer's head, via the strap, against gravity to alleviate         loading of at least one muscle in the wearer's neck to         unobtrusively support the wearer's head without conscious effort         by the wearer.

Typically, the torso covering comprises a sweatshirt or jacket.

Accordingly, the head engager comprises a hood of such sweatshirt or jacket for selectively engaging the wearer's head. The skilled addressee is to appreciate that such selective engagement is according to a desire of the wearer, i.e., the wearer is able to select when the head engager engages his/her head.

Typically, the torso covering includes pockets for storing and/or carrying items.

Typically, the hood comprises an internal headband that forms the head engager.

Typically, the head engager is adjustable to suit a variety of head sizes.

In other embodiments, the head engager may comprise a headband, a hat, a head covering, or the like.

Typically, the head engager includes a mask for operatively covering a part of the wearer's face.

Typically, the mask is configured to cover the wearer's eyes to reduce the ingress of light to facilitate resting.

Typically, the at least one strap comprises a resiliently elastic strap configured to operatively alleviate loading of at least one neck muscle selected from a non-exhaustive group consisting of the trapezius muscle, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the levator scapulae muscle, and the platysma muscle. The skilled addressee will however appreciate that other muscles in the body may be supported as well.

In one embodiment, the at least one strap comprises webbing configured to operatively alleviate loading of at least one neck muscle selected from a non-exhaustive group consisting of the trapezius muscle, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the levator scapulae muscle, and the platysma muscle. The skilled addressee will however appreciate that other muscles in the body may be supported as well.

In an embodiment, the strap comprises two or more straps operatively running unobtrusively along the wearer's spinal column and fastened with the head engager and seating pad at respective ends thereof.

Typically, the seating pad is shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a wearer's buttocks and/or upper thighs.

In an embodiment, the seating pad is padded for comfort.

Typically, the strap is arranged within layers of material comprising the torso covering, such as within a lining.

In an embodiment, the strap is arranged within an internal channel defined by the torso covering.

Typically, the torso covering defines a pocket or pouch wherein the seating pad is retracted and/or stored in the storage position.

Typically, the pocket or pouch is defined on a back portion of the torso covering so that the seating pad is downwards deployable therefrom into the deployed position.

Typically, the pocket or pouch includes a fastener for sealing the seating pad therein in the storage position.

Typically, such fastener comprises a slide fastener, buttons, clips, or the like.

According to a further aspect of the disclosure there is provided a travel head support harness for a garment having a torso covering configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso, in use, the harness comprising:

-   -   a head engager configured to selectively engage a wearer's head;     -   at least one strap connected to the head engager and running         down the wearer's torso; and     -   a seating pad fastened with the strap and deployable between a         storage position, in which the pad is stored within the torso         covering, and a deployed position, in which the pad extends         below the wearer's torso so that a wearer is able to sit on the         pad so that a weight of the wearer on the pad supports the         wearer's head, via the strap, against gravity to alleviate         loading of at least one muscle in the wearer's neck to         unobtrusively support the wearer's head without conscious effort         by the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic front-view representation of one embodiment of a travel head support garment, in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic rear-view representation of the travel head support garment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic front-view representation of the travel head support garment of FIG. 1, with a front part opened;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic closer view representation of a pocket or pouch of a seating pad of the travel head support garment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrammatic transparent view representations of the travel head support garment of FIG. 1 showing the seating pad in a storage position and a deployed position, respectively;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are diagrammatic perspective view representations of the travel head support garment worn by a wearer, in use; and

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic front view representation of a further embodiment of the travel head support garment of FIG. 1 showing the head engager with a mask.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Further features of the disclosure are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the disclosure to the skilled addressee. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the disclosure as set out above. In the figures, incorporated to illustrate features of the example embodiment or embodiments, like reference numerals are used to identify like parts throughout.

With reference now to the accompanying drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a travel head support garment 10 in accordance with an aspect of the disclosure. The exemplified embodiment comprises a sweatshirt or jacket with a hood, or a so-called “hoodie,” but the skilled addressee will appreciate that other embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. Due to the general requirement of some manner of head engager 12, as described below, a hoodie-style garment is well-suited for this application, but other garments are apposite.

The exemplified travel head support garment 10 generally comprises a torso covering 14 that is configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso while in use. The skilled addressee will appreciate that a variety of suitable torso coverings may be used, such as jackets, sweatshirts, vests, harnesses, shirts, tops, jumpers, jerseys, etc. As mentioned above, due to the need for a head engager 12, a hoodie finds particular application in a typical embodiment.

As is known in the art, such a torso covering 14 generally includes pockets 24 for storing and/or carrying items. In addition, the torso covering 14 can be manufactured from a variety of desired materials, such as animal or natural fibers, synthetic materials, water-resistant or waterproof materials, etc., in a variety of fashionable or desirable colors and designs.

The travel head support garment 10 further includes a suitable head engager 12 that is configured to selectively engage a wearer's head 18. In the exemplified embodiment, the head engager 12 comprises a hood of such a sweatshirt or jacket for selectively engaging the wearer's head 18. The skilled addressee is to appreciate that such selective engagement is according to a desire of the wearer, i.e., the wearer is able to select when the head engager engages his/her head, such as placing the head engager onto or over the wearer's head, when required.

In a typical example where the torso covering 14 comprises a hoodie, the hood thereof comprises an internal headband that forms the head engager 12. Typically, the head engager 12 is adjustable to suit a variety of head sizes. Such adjustability may take a variety of forms, as is known in the art, e.g., drawstrings, fabric adjustment techniques, etc. It is also to be appreciated that, in other embodiments, the head engager 12 may comprise a headband, a hat, a head covering, or the like, and is not limited to a hoodie.

In a preferred embodiment, the head engager 12 also includes a mask 26 for operatively covering a part of the wearer's face. Typically, the mask 26 is configured to cover the wearer's eyes to reduce the ingress of light to facilitate resting. Such a mask may be removable or not, requirements depending. As shown in FIG. 9, one embodiment of the mask 26 may comprise a flap within a hood of the hoodie that can be placed over a wearer's eyes, or the like.

The travel head support garment 10 also includes at least one strap 22 that is connected to the head engager 12 and generally runs down the wearer's torso. Typically, the at least one strap 22 comprises webbing or the like for transferring a load of the wearer's head onto the seating pad. In another embodiment, the strap 22 comprises a resiliently elastic strap configured to operatively alleviate loading of at least one neck muscle selected from a non-exhaustive group consisting of the trapezius muscle, the sternocleidomastoid muscle, the levator scapulae muscle, and the platysma muscle. The skilled addressee will however appreciate that other muscles in the body may be supported as well. In an embodiment, the strap comprises two or more straps operatively running unobtrusively along the wearer's spinal column and fastened with the head engager 12 and seating pad 20 at respective ends thereof.

The strap 22 may be adjustable to facilitate adjustment to the support provided, such as a length adjustment, or even an elasticity adjustment, or the like.

Travel head support garment 10 further includes a seating pad 20 that is fastened with the strap 22. Such a seating pad 20 is generally deployable between a storage position, in which the seating pad 20 is stored within the torso covering 14, and a deployed position, in which the seating pad 20 extends below the wearer's torso so that a wearer 16 is able to sit on the seating pad 20 while sitting on a chair 8, so that a weight of the wearer 16 on the seating pad 20 supports the wearer's head 18, via the strap 22, against gravity to alleviate loading of at least one muscle in the wearer's neck to unobtrusively support the wearer's head without conscious effort by the wearer 16.

In this manner, the deployable seating pad 20 can be conveniently stored out of the way when not needed, and deployed into the deployed position when the wearer requires head support in a seated position. When deployed and with the wearer seated thereon, the seating pad forms an anchor, via the strap 22, for the head engager 12, so that the wearer's head is generally prevented from slumping forward or to the sides, which can facilitate resting when seated, such as when travelling.

The seating pad 20 is generally shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a wearer's buttocks and/or upper thighs. Similarly, the seating pad 20 may be padded for comfort, either when seated thereon or when in the storage position to provide lumbar support, e.g., lower back support. Typically, the seating pad 20 is foldable so that it can be folded in the storage position and unfolded in the deployed position.

In a typical embodiment, the strap 22 is arranged within layers of material comprising the torso covering 14, such as within a lining and between an outer layer, or the like. In an embodiment, the strap 22 is arranged within an internal channel defined by the torso covering 14 to retain the strap in place while allowing the strap to slide within the channel to facilitate deployment and support, as well as storage, of the seating pad connected to the strap 22.

In a typical embodiment, the torso covering 14 defines a pocket or pouch 28 wherein the seating pad 20 is retracted and/or stored in the storage position. Typically, the pocket or pouch 28 is defined on a back portion of the torso covering 14, as shown, so that the seating pad 20 is downwards deployable therefrom into the deployed position and where it can facilitate lower back support when in the storage position. However, a position of the pocket or pouch 28 may differ, requirements dependent.

In the exemplified embodiment, the pocket or pouch 28 includes a fastener 30 for sealing the seating pad 20 therein in the storage position and out of the way. Typically, such fastener comprises a slide fastener 30, such as a zipper, but buttons, clips, or similar fasteners can also be used.

The skilled addressee is to appreciate that the disclosure includes an associated travel head support harness for a garment having a torso covering configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso, in use. The harness comprises the head engager 12 configured to selectively engage a wearer's head at least one strap 22 connected to the head engager 12 and running down the wearer's torso, as well as the seating pad 20 fastened with the strap 22 and deployable between a storage position, in which the pad is stored within the torso covering, and a deployed position, in which the pad extends below the wearer's torso so that a wearer is able to sit on the pad. As above, a weight of the wearer on the pad supports the wearer's head, via the strap, against gravity to alleviate loading of at least one muscle in the wearer's neck to unobtrusively support the wearer's head without conscious effort by the wearer. With such a harness, the wearer is able to supply their own torso covering garment, as desired.

Applicant believes is particularly advantageous that the disclosure provides for a travel head support garment 10 that can be fashionable and practical for travelling, but is able to unobtrusively use a wearer's body weight to support the wearer's head while travelling. In particular, the deployable seating pad that facilitates the wearer to use their own bodyweight as an anchor for head support is considered advantageous.

Optional embodiments of the disclosure may also be said to broadly consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated herein, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of the parts, elements or features, and wherein specific integers are mentioned herein that have known equivalents in the art to which the disclosure relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth. In the example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail, as such will be readily understood by the skilled addressee.

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “said,” “the,” and/or similar referents in the context of describing various embodiments (especially in the context of the claimed subject matter) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to”) unless otherwise noted. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed subject matter as essential to the practice of the claimed subject matter.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Accordingly, one example may exemplify certain aspects of the disclosure, while other aspects are exemplified in a different example. These examples are intended to assist the skilled person in performing the disclosure and are not intended to limit the overall scope of the disclosure in any way unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Variations (e.g., modifications and/or enhancements) of one or more embodiments described herein might become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this application. The applicant expects skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the applicant intends for the claimed subject matter to be practiced other than as specifically described herein. 

1. A travel head support garment comprising: a sweatshirt or jacket comprising a torso covering configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso, in use; a hood comprising a head engager configured to selectively engage a wearer's head; at least one strap connected to the head engager and running down a back portion of the torso covering, the at least one strap arranged within layers of material comprising the torso covering; and a seating pad shaped and dimensioned to accommodate a wearer's buttocks and/or upper thighs, the seating pad fastened with the at least one strap and deployable between a storage position, in which the seating pad is stored within the torso covering, and a deployed position, in which the seating pad extends below the wearer's torso so that a wearer is able to sit on the seating pad so that a weight of the wearer on the seating pad supports the wearer's head, via the strap, against gravity to alleviate loading of at least one muscle in a wearer's neck to unobtrusively support the wearer's head without conscious effort by the wearer.
 2. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the torso covering includes pockets for one or more of storing and carrying items.
 3. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the hood comprises an internal headband which forms the head engager.
 4. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the head engager is adjustable to suit a variety of head sizes.
 5. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the head engager includes a mask for operatively covering a part of a wearer's face.
 6. The travel head support garment of claim 5, wherein the mask is configured to cover a wearer's eyes to reduce ingress of light to facilitate resting.
 7. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises a resiliently elastic strap configured to operatively alleviate loading of at least one neck muscle chosen from a trapezius muscle, a sternocleidomastoid, a levator scapulae muscle, and a platysma muscle.
 8. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the strap comprises one or more straps operatively running unobtrusively along a wearer's spinal column and fastened with the head engager and seating pad at respective ends thereof.
 9. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the seating pad is padded for comfort.
 10. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the strap is arranged within an internal channel defined by the torso covering.
 11. The travel head support garment of claim 1, wherein the torso covering defines a pocket or pouch on an inside of the back portion thereof, wherein the seating pad is one or more of retracted and stored in the storage position and downwards deployable therefrom into the deployed position.
 12. The travel head support garment of claim 11, wherein the pocket or pouch includes a fastener for sealing the seating pad therein in the storage position.
 13. The travel head support garment of claim 12, wherein the fastener comprises one or more of a slide fastener, buttons, and clips.
 14. The garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one strap comprises webbing. 